This year our club wants to focus on people in our club with stories about you. Our first “Spotlight” is of an outgoing coach who has changed the way our Women’s Hockey works for the better.
Lyndon Cooper co-coached the Suburbs Premier Development Women’s team from 2021 to the end of the 2023 season. 2020 saw our top women’s team slip to the end of the ladder which meant a new rebuild in 2021. Who would have thought that finishing 5th out of 8 in 2021, and then winning the Premier Womens Championship in 2022, was on the cards for Lyndon. He introduced new initiatives on coaching drills, brought some new age strategies mixed with a few old ones, and took the team to 1st in just 2 years. A stunning effort that landed him Coach of the Year in 2022.
2023 was a bit of rebuild with a few players leaving after winning the 2022 season. The team still ended up in the top 4 and narrowly missing out on the final by a lucky goal in the dying minutes of the semi final.
For 2024 Lyndon decided to take our new Suburbs Junior Womens Development team and pass on his vast experience to our new youth players. The year had some great highlights and some excellent learnings were taken away from a great 1st season for this team. 4 or 5 of the players were even pulled up into Prem Dev grade a few times and 2 of them even played for the Prem Womens team out of Hamilton.
“Lyndon was a wonderful coach for us as a brand new team – encouraging us to play for each other, be kind and never give up. Practices were fun too and we certainly didn’t have the chance to get cold!! Thanks for always being quick with a smile, Lyndon; for giving your time and for being such a positive influence. We hope that the fishing and golf are good and that you enjoy a well earned break!”
Lisa Inglis, Suburbs Junior Women’s Development Team Captain
So where to now for Lyndon. Rumors have it that he is embarking on his Golfing career in 2025. Look out for all those birdies and eagles Lyndon and thank you for giving so much to Suburbs Women’s hockey.
